Question and hidden answer device



Dec. 24, 1957 F. 'JQNEUKLIS 2,817,159

QUESTION AND HIDDEN ANSWERDEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1956 INVENTOR. g4 Mfl/AS ATI'O RN EYS QUESTION AND HIDDEN ANSWER DEVICE Frank J. Nenklis, Tamaqua, Pa.

Application September 27, 1956, Serial No. 612,380

1 Claim. (Cl. 35-9) This invention relates to a game or amusement device.

This invention is an improvement over the amusement device shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,157,798.

The object of the invention is to provide an amusement device which includes knobs that are adapted to be used for manually rotating a web which has indicia thereon, there being arrows on the face of the game which have a card that corresponds with the color of the knobs so that the knobs will be rotated in the proper direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an amusement device which includes a housing and casing which are releasably or detachably connected together, the casing having an improved support member arranged therein, there being a slot in the mouth portion of the device whereby the questions and answers can be viewed through the slot in the mouth, there being an opening in the eye portion of the game so that symbols can be viewed through the opening in the eye to indicate the correct answers to the various questions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement device which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following descriptions.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the amusement device, constructed according to the present invention, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the amusement device.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the opening in the eye portion of the device through which the correct answer symbols are viewed.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the device mounted on a body which may simulate a robot.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a hollow rectangular casing which includes a back wall 11 and spaced parallel end walls 12. The casing 10 further includes spaced parallel side walls 13, Figure 3. Detachably connected to the casing 10 is a hollow rectangular housing 14 which includes a front wall 15 and spaced parallel end Walls 16, the housing 14 further including spaced parallel side walls 17.

The side walls 13 of the casing 10 are provided with spaced parallel slots 18, while the side walls 17 of the housing 14 are also provided with slots 19 which register with the slots 18. A pair of shafts 20 are journaled in or rotatably positioned in the registering slots 18 and 19, and manually operable knobs 21 are arranged on the outer ends of the shafts 20. Arrows 22 may be imprinted or formed on the outer surface of the front wall rates Patent 0 l 2,817,159 Patented Dec. 24, 1957- 15 of the housing 14, and the arrows 22 are used to indicate the correct direction for rotating the shafts 20 by the knobs 21. The arrows 22 are of the same color as the adjacent knobs 21 so that the user of the device will know in which direction to rotate the shafts 20.

Trained over the pair of shafts 20 is a web 23, and the web 23 is provided with indicia thereon. Thus, one portion of the web 23 is provided with a series or plurality of questions or statements which are indicated by the numeral 24, Figure l. Arranged immediately below each of the questions or statements 24 is a group of possible answers which are indicated by the numeral 25. The web 23 is further provided with a plurality of symbols 26 which are used to indicate the correct answer. The front wall 15 of the housing 14 is provided with the representation of a face so as to include a mouth 27 which is provided with a slot 28 whereby the questions 24 and possible answers 25 are exposed through the slot 28.

The front wall 15 of the housing 14 is further provided with the representation of a nose 29, and eyes 30 and 31. The eye 31 is provided with a circular opening or aperture 32 whereby the symbols 26 can be selectively viewed therethrough. A shutter 33 is pivotally connected to the front wall 15 of the housing 14 through the medium of a pivot .pin 34, and the shutter 33 is mounted for movement into and out of closing or bridging relation with respect to the opening 32 in the eye 31. A means is provided for manually moving the shutter 33, and this means comprises a circular magnet 35 which is provided with a cutout or slit 36 that is adapted to register with the pin 34 when the shutter 33 is to be shifted. A cord 37 connects the magnet 35 to the housing 14. A magnet 38 may be positioned in spaced relation with respect to the shutter 33.

Secured to the inner surface of the wall 15 of the housing 14 is a block 39 which is adapted to be used in helping to maintain the movable web 23 in its proper position.

There is further provided a body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 40, and the body member 40 includes a base 41 and spaced parallel side portions 42. The side portions 42 of the body member 40 are adapted to be secured to the side walls 13 of the casing 10 by means of suitable securing elements such as staples 43, and the body member 40 is cut away as at 44 whereby sufficient clearance is provided for gaining access to the staples 43.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a modified arrangement wherein the game of the present invention is adapted to be used as part of a robot which is indicated generally by the numeral 45. The robot 45 may include a body 46, legs 47 and supporting blocks or feet 48 which are provided with slots 49 for receiving the lower ends of the legs 47. The head 50 of the robot 45 may consist of the amusement device of the present invention. A clamping arrangement 51 may be provided for connecting the head 50 to the body 46 of the robot.

Clips 52 may be provided for maintaining the housing and easing connected together.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an amusement device which is an improvement over the amusement device shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,157,798. In use, by rotating the knobs 21, the various questions or statements 24 can be moved into registry with the slot 28 in the mouth 27 and the user can then attempt to pick the proper answer from the answers 25 listed therebelow. In order to determine whether the answer decided upon is correct, it is only necessary to move the magnet 35 to a position which is contiguous to the eye 31 so that the magnet 35 will pivot or swing the shutter 33 from the closed position shown in Figure l to the open position shown in Figure 4 so that the opening 32 is exposed whereby the symbol 26 can be observed. The symbols 26 are arranged in such a manner on the web 23 that they correspond with the answers 25. In other words, the arrangement of the indicia on the web 23 is such that when a question and set of possible answers are exposed through the slot 28, then the symbol representing the correct answer will be in registry with the aperture 32. After the user has finished with one question or statement, it is only necessary to rotate the shaft by means of the knobs 21 so that the next question or statement can be brought into View through the slot 28 whereby the amusement device can be used to test a persons knowledge with a plurality of different questions.

The knobs 21 in the upper portion of Figure 1 are adapted to be rotated in the direction of the adjacent arrows 22, and the adjacent arrows 22 are painted the same color as the adjacent knobs 21. Similarly, the lower knobs 21 in Figure 1 are adapted to be rotated in the opposite direction as indicated by the adjacent arrows 22, and the arrows 22 can be again of the same color as the adjacent knobs 21. The lower knobs 21 may be painted red, while the upper knobs 21 may be painted black.

Referring to Figures and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a stand which has the representation or configuration of a robot which can be used for supporting the games wherein the game may be used as the head portion of the stand. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in any shape or size. The head 50 may be connected to the body 46 of the stand through the medium of clamps 51. When the eye shutter 33 is to be moved or actuated to open position, the split ring magnet 35 is placed over the eye with the gap or slit 36 directly over the axis pin 34, as shown in Figure 4.

The present invention includes the support member 40 which is an improvement over the construction shown in my prior patent, and the support member 40 helps to steady the web 23 as the Web is moved by manual rotation of the knobs 21. Furthermore, in the present invention the question and answer window 28 is in the form of a slot or cutout in the mouth 27 instead of the eye.

Stop markers or indicators '53 are arranged adjacent the window 28 for use in properly aligning the questions and answers. A stationary magnet 38 may be secured to the base 41 of the body member or support member 40 by means of a suitable adhesive, or by means of tape. The cutaway portion 44 provides sufficient clearance as when the staples 43 are being secured in place.

I claim:

In an amusement device, a rectangular casing including a back wall, spaced parallel side walls, and spaced parallel end walls, a rectangular housing telescopically and detachably connected to said casing and including a front wall, spaced parallel side walls, and spaced parallel end walls, clips engaging the end walls of the casing and the front wall of the housing for maintaining the housing and casing in assembled relation to each other, there being registering spaced parallel slots in the side walls of said casing and housing, a pair of spaced parallel shafts rotatably arranged in said slots, a web trained over said shafts and having questions and possible answers thereon and symbols designating the correct answer, knobs on the ends of said shafts, arrows on the front wall of said housing for indicating the correct direction of rotation of the shafts, said knobs being of a color which corresponds with the color of a corresponding adjacent arrow, stop markers arranged contiguous to said knobs, said front wall having the representation of a face thereon so as to include a pair of eyes, a nose and a month, one of said eyes being provided with an opening for exposing a symbol designating the correct answer to a question, a shutter pivotally connected to said front wall and mounted for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to the opening in said eye, said mouth being provided with a slot for displaying the questions and possible answers therethrough, a guide block secured to the inner surface of said front wall and engaging said web, a support member arranged in said casing and including a base arranged contiguous to said web and said base being provided with cutouts adjacent its sides, and a pair of spaced parallel side sections extending from said base and secured to the inner surface of the side walls of the casing, and a magnet adapted to be connected to said housing for selectively moving said shutter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,673 Heron Apr. 20, 1915 2,157,798 Neuklis May 9, 1939 2,546,789 Schielke Mar. 27, 1951 

